Texas Highways magazine readers enjoy our *Speaking of Texas* column, which
spotlights tidbits of history, folklore, and fascinating facts about Texas
and Texans. There is no need to send a query letter regarding Speaking
items; instead, send the item itself.

We use items contributed by freelance writers, crediting each writer for the
item(s) he/she provides. We pay 40˘ to 50˘ per word (excluding
prepositions, articles, and conjunctions) on acceptance. We print an
average of three to five items, ranging from 50 to 200 words, each month.
(The shorter the better; no more than one double-spaced page.) Note that we
prefer lively and interesting verbs in active voice, rather than forms of
the verb *to be.*

You must provide at least two reference sources (preferably more) for each
item you send. PLEASE INCLUDE PHOTOCOPIES OF AT LEAST TWO PRIMARY SOURCES.
(Do not send material downloaded from the Internet.) Since every item is
fact-checked, the photocopies will save us time and speed publication of
your item if it is accepted. If your source is a newspaper or magazine,
include the name of the publication, date, issue number, and page number(s).
For books, include title, author, publisher, date of publication, and page
number(s).

Other than that, the sky*s the limit as far as subject matter and
content--as long as it*s about Texas. We request that you examine recent
columns to get an idea of what has been printed in past issues. Since 1993,
Speaking of Texas topics have been included in the annual index (in each
December issue).

If you would like to contribute material for the column, we would like to
hear from you. INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER as a header on each submission, and enclose an addressed,
stamped envelope. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

TEXAS HIGHWAYS, the official travel magazine of Texas by designation of the
Texas Legislature in 1974, *encourages travel within the state and tells the
Texas story to readers around the world.* The magazine, which is published
by the Travel and Information Division of the Texas Department of
Transportation, has gained wide respect, as well as numerous awards, for its
stories and outstanding photography. The magazine has a circulation of
approximately 330,000, with subscribers in every state in the nation and
more than 100 countries. Surveys tell us that a majority of our readers are
60 and older, and that they especially like coverage of Texas scenery,
history, small towns, and out-of-the-way places. Approximately 80% of our
stories and photographs come from freelance contributors.

QUERY GUIDELINES:

1. Submit a query letter outlining your proposed feature with a brief
description of the scope and slant. The letter should give us some idea of
the style and tone you propose to take in the story. Do not send the
completed story until requested to do so. It helps to include copies of
previously published articles to show your writing style. Keep in mind,
however, that TEXAS HIGHWAYS never approves a story idea based on how much
or where you may have published. The subject matter, slant, and style must
be right for us. We are not responsible for unsolicited material. We do
not accept queries over the telephone. We do not publish poetry or fiction.

2. Before you query, review the indexes found in the December issues of the
magazine (the 1980 index is in the January 1981 issue). You can find back
issues of TEXAS HIGHWAYS at most libraries. Since we do not publish two
features on the same subject within five years, the indexes are useful in
identifying previously published subjects.

3. Subjects should focus on things to do or places to see in Texas. Include
historical, cultural, and geographic aspects if appropriate. Text should be
meticulously researched. Include anecdotes, historical references,
quotations, and, where relevant, geologic, botanical, and zoological
information.

4. We do not commission articles. Material is submitted on speculation
only. The author warrants that the work is his or her original creation.

5. TEXAS HIGHWAYS purchases first North American serial rights, and may
reproduce the work in printed and/or electronic form.

6. Include a SASE, and allow up to eight weeks for a reply.

MANUSCRIPT GUIDELINES:

1. After we notify you of our interest, submit manuscripts typed,
double-spaced, standard six-inch line on white paper. Length will vary
according to topic (generally 1,200-2,000 words), but we prefer too much
rather than not enough. Again, material is submitted on speculation only.
If you use a computer to write your story, submit a hard copy along with a
disk. Our preferred disk type is a Macintosh-formatted 3 1/2-inch floppy,
but we can also use a PC-compatible 3 1/2- or 5 1/4-inch disk. Please save
your manuscript twice--once in your standard word-processing format and
again as a text file.

2. Good research is imperative. Get everything right the first time. Check
and double-check facts, dates, spellings, directions, distances, heights,
all matters of historical record, telephone numbers....Check and recheck
everything. Assume nothing: Ask individuals how to spell their names. Do
not rely on friends, relatives, telephone books, newspaper articles, or
programs for an event. Put a small check mark in ink over names, addresses,
times, numbers, etc. (first occurrence only), so that we know that you have
verified them beyond a doubt.

3. Read a few back issues of TEXAS HIGHWAYS before submitting your story.
The approach should be informal, with a polished, readable quality. Write a
strong lead and ending. Use active constructions and strong verbs. Avoid
the passive voice. Avoid the *to be* verb form as much as possible. Avoid
first person. We welcome a sense of humor when and if appropriate.

4. Include the names and phone numbers of all persons quoted or used as
information sources for your article. Check the spelling of all names in
your story, then check again. Include a list of published sources, as well.
TEXAS HIGHWAYS customarily fact-checks all aspects of every story. We need
a telephone number where we can reach you between 8 am and 5 pm.

5. If, in the course of researching an article, you find interesting
illustrations on the subject such as old photographs, period engravings,
maps, or paintings, please make a note of what they are, what publication
they*re in, and who owns the copyright, if any. Please include this
information with your feature.

6. If you write about a place, please send us the most recent descriptive
literature. If you write about an event, send us the latest program.

7. Send information for the *When Where How* box with your manuscript.
Include dates, times, locations, prices, and instructions on how to get to a
place or event. Be sure to include information on facilities for the
handicapped. If you prepare a historical feature, furnish names or
descriptions of sources (books, old letters, museum displays, etc.). Refer
to recent issues of the magazine for the format and type of facts needed.

8. Please submit a brief biographical sketch that we might edit and use with
your story.

9. Please submit two or three title suggestions with your story.

10. We expect you to write to the editors* specifications. When necessary,
we expect you to rewrite an article at least once.

11. Except for certain in-house preferences, we use The Random House
Dictionary of the English Language, Second Edition Unabridged as our
standard reference.

12. When your article is scheduled, an editor will work with you to resolve
ambiguities and answer questions. The editor may request that you add
material or rewrite portions of the text to prepare the story for
publication. We cannot promise that an article will be published when
scheduled.

RATES (We pay on acceptance.):

1. TEXAS HIGHWAYS pays approximately 40 to 50 cents per word, excluding
prepositions, articles, and conjunctions. An average-length article earns
$550. When you submit your manuscript, please send an invoice that includes
the subject matter of your article, and your name, address, and social
security number. Leave the amount of payment blank. We will fill it in
once we have accepted and counted the story. (See sample invoice on reverse
side.)

2. Please type your name, address, telephone number, and social security
number on the front of your manuscript. We need this information to process
payment for accepted articles. Once the editorial staff has accepted your
story, payment takes about four weeks.

3. Let us know immediately if your address or phone number changes.

REMEMBER:

--Submit a list of your sources, including names, addresses, and telephone
numbers. If you have used published sources, provide that information as
well. TEXAS HIGHWAYS customarily fact-checks every aspect of every story.

--Submit brochures, maps, charts, or other information that will help us
verify what you have written or help us in illustrating your material.

--Keep a copy of your article. Manuscripts may get lost in the mail or in
our office.

--Submit an invoice with your story. This speeds up the payment process.

--Always check and double-check your information. TEXAS HIGHWAYS strives to
be accurate on all counts, including spelling of names, historical facts,
highway numbers, directions, place names, and caption details. Because we
do not have the staff to retrace the steps of every author, we depend on YOU
for much of that accuracy. Please take the time to ensure that you have
included all the information we need to keep your feature correct. Thank
you.

* Be sure to assign an invoice number. (You may use any numbering system
you like.)

Writing for Texas Highways
By Jack Lowry, Editor

The first thing we think of when we review a query is our readership: Is the
proposed subject of interest to our readers? Familiarize yourself with the
magazine, with the kinds of stories we publish, and with topics we have
covered recently.

Work on your writing. We like strong leads that draw in the reader
immediately. We look for writing that is accurate, clear, and concise.
Think about ways to tighten your writing. For example, use adjectives and
adverbs sparingly; opt for nouns instead. Favor the concrete over the
abstract. Get to the point. Specify. Avoid passive constructions and the
*to be* form as much as possible. When appropriate, use anecdotes, quotes,
wordplay, examples, and contrast. In general, your writing should help
information and ideas flow smoothly for the reader.

Keep our production cycle in mind. Queries frequently arrive too late for
us to consider. For most features, we must work at least a year in advance,
primarily because we schedule seasonal photography one year for publication
the following year.

Expect anything you send us to be edited and possibly returned (at least
once) for a rewrite.

What do we not want? Avoid superlatives that sound like advertising copy.
Don*t use words whose meanings you don*t really understand. Avoid words
whose meanings have become distorted through general (over)usage: *Unique*
is perhaps the most common example in travel writing.